The Champion Copper Mine #4 is located in Painesdale, at the junction of M-26 and the Painesdale-Chassell Road. Thanks to H Donn de Yampert, we get a good look at the ruins that remain on the site.

I found this information on the Exploring the North webpage: “Organized in 1889, the Champion #4 Shaft-Rock house is the oldest shaft-rock house standing in the Keweenaw. Champion #4 was one of the many Copper Range Company mines that ran from Atlantic Mine to Painesdale. During the 1930’s the mine was working the 48th level, 4,800 feet from the surface on the incline at the #4 shaft house. Some buildings and many ruins remain from this once active mine.”

I’m quite amazed that there are still so many of the buildings standing and in pretty decent shape. So nice to see the mining history preserved there. You can read more about the Painesdale Mine and Shaft on this link: Exploring the North

H Donn de Yampert also shared a drone video of the grounds and buildings, so you get a better idea of where they’re located in relation to each other.

There is so much history here...I'm sure we've not even scratched the surface.

Check out this link for more info:
KeweenawHistory.com

Lots of history in the Copper Country. My hubby
loves this stuff, but it's not high on my bucket
list stuff, lol. Very interesting info, though.
I'm going to show it to Ron, as he'll appreciate
it.

Anyone that works to record more history gets an "A" in my book. Good stuff, H Donn de Yampert.

There is another fellow, Michael Forgrave, that created several Keweenaw mining and history books. They are out of print now but I was able to get his first one that includes maps of all the mining areas, shafts and buildings from Painesdale to Mohawk called "Copper Empire Volume 1". There was never a volume 2. I thought I got it at Copper World but I don't see it on their website.

MTU has the best records but since it's such a massive archive of individual items it can be difficult to search or access.

Gotta love the B&W imagery of the shaft house and location. Nat and I did this a couple years ago while taking a walking tour through Calumet to capture some of the historic ambiance.

There are so many great books and websites devoted to the history of mining in the Copper Country. Nat and I have an entire large bookcase devoted solely to Upper Michigan geology and mining history, and countless bookmarks on my web browser pointing to different aspects of the same. After I complete these books on Texas, I am thinking of doing a little different book on the Copper Country; stay tuned...

I too like the impact of the B&W images. The 1st & 3rd are my favorites. The vid put everything in place! I've never taken a mine tour, so have a stupid question! What is the structure on the shaft-rock house that looks like open bracing going all the way up to the 3rd level? Is it actually bracing or does it serve another purpose?